Vehicle stand and guard



Aug. 29, 1939. c. s. MINToN 2,171,042

' VEHICLE STAND AND GUARD Filed June 1e, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 'lllilgllzrlll/I/lllll Patented Aug. 29, 1939 Unirse STATES PATENT FFICE 8 Claims.

My present invention relates to vehicle supports and more particularly to a support for twowheeled vehicles.

Various types of supports have been known for use with bicycles and motorcycles. One of these types, generally known as a jiiiy stand, comprises a bar pivotally fastened to a low part of the vehicle. The bar is adapted to be swung outward to maintain the machine in a tilted rest position and to be swung inward so that the bar may not strike the ground while the vehicle is in motion.

A second known type of stand is that which extends around the back wheel and is pivoted at either side of that wheel to be swung underneath that wheel to support it free from the ground. It is necessary to dismount from a motorcycle in order to use that type of stand.

A third type of stand, known but not commonly used, provides two members which may be extended downwardly on each side of thevehicle to engage the ground and support the machine upright. There has been an objection to this type of stand in that it could not be used except on level ground.

It is an object of my invention to provide a device which will overcome the objectionable features of each of the known types of stands.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved support of the third type mentioned.

A further object is to provide a new and improved vehicle support which is power operated.

Another object is to provide a stand which will allow easy parking and general use of a. motorcycle.

An additional object is to 'provide a stand which will support part of the vehicle free of the ground.

It is also an object to provide a support which will give protection to the driver of the machine in case of accident.

The invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of a motorcycle showing one embodiment of the device of my invention applied thereto; Figure 2 is a front View of the motorcycle shown in Figure 1 with the front wheel and its accompanying steering post removed; Figure 3 is a View in section of the stand and guard of my invention with a part of the associated control; Figure 4 is a view of the control handles for my invention; Figure 5 is a (Cl. ISO-33) sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a modified type of control handle similar to that shown in Figure 4; and Figure 'I is a front view of a motorcycle with a modied form of my invention applied thereto.

In Figure 1 the conventional motorcycle has a front wheel Il) and a back wheel (not shown). The motor I I is supported in a frame I2 to which is attached the usual footboards I2a. A generally U-shaped tubular member I3 extends from each side of the machine and is rigidly fastened to the frame near the motor base at I4 and near the steering knuckle at I5 just ahead of the usual footboards. 'These U-shaped tubular members I3 and their associated structure are designed to act as a guard to protect the rider of a motor cycle from being crushed if it should collide with another object. 'Ihe yVertical portion of tubular member I3 forms a cylinder in which a slide I 6 is slidably mounted. On the lower end of slide IB is a shoe I'I o-f somewhat larger diameter than the slide I6. The slide I6 is adapted to drop downward into contact with the ground to serve as a stand for the machine.

As may be seen more clearly in Figure 3, the slide I6 has at its upper end a piston I8 of brass or other suitable material. Piston I3 fits the cylinder walls closely and is loosely fastened to silde I6. Means is provided on piston I8 to seal it against the passage of air. It is preferred here to use a leather washer I9. An oil plug 20 is provided so that oil may be supplied for piston I8 and washer I9. A setscrew ZI is secured in the lower end of tubular member I3 and extends into a longitudinal slot (not shown) cut in the wall of slide I6. This set screw prevents the slide I6 from turning. The piston I8 and appended slide I6 are actuated by vacuum from the engine I I, the intake manifold of which is connected by tubing 22 (Figure 2) to tubular member I3. A plug (not shown) in the tubular member I3 prevents ingress of air from the direction opposite to piston I8.

A latch member 23 is provided to maintain the slide I6 in any desired position. Latch member 23 is slidably mounted in horizontal portion 24 of tubular member I3 and is adapted to engage a plurality of suitable notches 25 formed in slide I6. A notch 26 formed near the lower end of slide I6 provides means for holding slide I6 comn pletely out of engagement withy the ground while the machine is in motion.v The latch member 23 is biased toward engagement with notches 25 and 26 by spring 21 coiled around latch 23 and bearing on collar 28 integral with latch 23. The

other end of spring 2l rests on bearing plate 29 fastened in horizontal portion 25 of tubular member I3. Bearing plate 29 is adapted to be placed in horizontal portion 2t through a slot (not shown). Bearing plate 29 is then riveted or welded in place.

Suitable means 35 is used to fasten a Bowden control wire 35 to the end 32 or latch member 23. The Bowden control wire l passes out of horizontal portion 2d at bend 33 into the usual flexible cable 34.

At its other end the Bowden control wire 3l enters a junction box 35 where it is attached to one end of yoke member 36. The junction box 35 is. preferably attached to the frame l2 near the point l5 where tubular member i3 is connected to the frame. A Bowden wire 3l, which leads to the control handle is attached to the center of yoke member 35. A Bowden wire 3.8 is attached to the other end oi' the yoke member 35. This Bowden wire 38 leads to an identical stand arrangement for the opposite side of the motorcycle as has been described above. The yoke member 35 provides means or allowing operation of only one of the slides l5 at a time if so desired.

A controldevice 39 is mounted on the gas tank 4!) near the usual switchboard. As is shown in detail in Figures l and 5, this control device 39 has a base portion il Xed to the tank and. a supporting portion ft2 fixed to the base portion 4|. In the supporting portion 62 is a pin` i3 on which are pivoted control handles @f and 155. Control handle iii operates latch 25 by Bowden wire 3l, yoke 36, and Bowden wire 5l. Control handle 45 regulates the connection of the intake manifold of engine H to the tubing 22 which leads in turnV to the tubular member I3. This regulation is effected by means of a three way Valve of which part i6 of the handle 35 forms the sliding valve cover, as is best shown in Figure 5. The part 55 of handle i5 slides on. supporting portion Q2 in which are cut ports @l and lS.

Valve port ll'l leads to tube 22 which is shown in Figure 2 attached to tubular member E3. Valve port t8 leads to tube 159 which in turn` is connected to the intake manifold (not shown) of the internal combustion engine Il.

In the position shown in Figuresl 4 and 5 the control handle l5 retains valve recess 55, cut in part @it of handle 55, so that lthe tube t9 and the port i8 are connected to port ill and tube 22.-

This will form a vacuum in tubular member i3 which will draw piston i8 and slide i5 upward if latch member 23 is not engaged in notches 25 and 26.

If the control handle d5 be moved to the left, port 48 will be covered and port lll will remain in sole communication with valve recess 5t. If the handle i5 be moved still further to the left, the recess 55 will ride over the edge of block member Q2 and allow the ingress of outside air to port 57. This will allow piston i3 and slide i6 to fall readily under the influence of gravity provided latch member 23 is not engaged with notches 25 and 26.

The normal operation of the device is apparent. While the machine is in motion, latch 23 is engaged in notch 25 and handle i5 is in mid-position to close off port ill. When the machine comes to rest, both handles are pulled all the way to the left. Handle withdraws latch 23 from notch 26 and handle t5 allows air to enter 'port 41 and tube 22. Piston i8 and slide l5 drop under the inuence of gravity. Since there is a duplicate slide It on each side of the machine, release of handle 35 will latch both slides I6 in place to support the motorcycle vertically. It is immaterial that the ground may not be level because either slide lli will drop as far as is necessary to support the machine vertically and will then be latched in place by release of handle M.

When the driver desires to use the machine, he starts the engine, pushes handle t5 to the right and pulls handle lll to the left. Handle 44 releases latch 23 and handle l5 places valve recess 5% so that vacuum from tube @S is admitted to tube 22. Both slides i8 will then be drawn upwardly by the vacuum and on release of handle Ml will be latched in place by engagement of latch 23 with notch 25. Handle 135 is then placed in mid-position to shut port 43 and close off port lll.

The stand may be very advantageously used to hold the front wheel raised from the ground in order to change the front wheel. When the ma chine is in the parked position with both of slides i5 on the ground, the drivers foot is placed on shoe il and the machine rocked to the opposite side by lifting to extend the slide from its cylinder. The slide will remain latched in the plurality of notches 25 as far out as it may be extended. rlhen the driver, by lifting the other sid-e of the machine while holding his foot on the other shoe il, may raise the machine to a level position with the front wheel ground and at any desired height.

To lower the machine from its raised position,

pressure is applied to handle #la just insufficient lil free of the to release latch The machine is lifted slighti all the way to the left to release the extended stand. To place the vehicle in parked position it is necessary only to pull levers lil and l5 in parking the machine.

Although it is not necessary that control handle 5 be operative to three positions, I Iind it advantageous. Leaving that handle in mid-posi tion, where all ports are closed, prevents leakage of air to the engine intake manifoldwhile the vehicle is in motion.

The control handles 4liand #35 and their accompanying parts may advantageously be combined in a single control handle as shown in Figure 6. The plate 5l is adapted to be ixed to the gas tank d. The valve ports 52 and 53 therein are connected respectively to the intake manifold of the engine l and the outside air. The valve port is connected to the tubing 22 which lea-ds to tubular member i3. A sliding valve plate 55 is spring biased against an abutment 56 integral with plate Handle 5l which is attached to slide plate 55 passes under bridge member 5S and retains slide plate 5,5 pressed rmly against plate 5l. A channel 5S is cut in the face of slide plate 55 resting against plate 5l and is permanently in communication with port 5ft. A Bowden control wire 3l (the other end of which is shown in Figure 3) has its iiexible cable @il attached to abutment 55. The Bowden wire all is pivotally attached to a point about the center of slide plate 55.

Cil

When handle 51 is pulled to the left, the slide plate 55 pivots about one corner'il and simultaneously pulls Bowden wire 31 to release latch member 23 and places channel 5S in communication with port 53. Thus ports 53 and 54 are connected and air may enter tubular member I3 by way of tubing 22. Since the latch member 23 is disengaged, the piston I8 and slide I6 may fall to the ground. On release of handle 51 the slide IB is locked in position to hold the vehicle in parking position.

When the engine Il is running, by pushing handle 5l to the right the slide plate 55 will pivot about its other corner 6I and connect ports 52 and 54. The motion of slide plate 55 about corner 6! pulls Bowden wire 3l as before to release latch member 23. The vacuum produced by engine li may act through port 52, channel 59, port 54, tubing 22, and tubular member I3 to raise piston I8 and slide I5. On release of handle 51 the slide l5 will be locked in its raised position.

In Figure 7 a modiiied form of my invention is shown. At point l5 on the frame i2 there is firmly attached a member 62 extending laterally to either side of the motorcycle. At the points i4 of the frame I2 are-rmly attached two laterally extending bars 53. To the end oi each bar 63 there is pvotally attached a guard member 64 adapted to move in a generally vertical plane. The free end of each guard member B4 is adapted to meet the outer end of member 52 on the corresponding side of the machine. A cylindrical sleeve 65, slidably mounted on member 62, is adapted to slide outwardly to engage guard member 54 and lock it in the position shown in full lines. In that position members 52, 53, and 64 are adapted to serve as a shin protecting guard.

A ratchet wheel 66 is fastened to guard member 64 near the pivotal connection to bar 63. A ratchet pawl 61 is supported from bar 63 and adapted to engage ratchet wheel 56 to prevent the guard members 64 from turning in one direction unless the ratchet is disengaged.

The operation of the modification ofrFigure 7 is obvious. To park the machine in a vertical position the sleeves 65 are slid toward each other and the guard members 64 are allowed to drop to the roadway (as shown by dotted lines) in the direction of the free movement of the ratchet, When the guard members 64 rest on the roadway, the ratchets will hold them against rotation and the machine will remain supported Vertically. When it is desired to use the machine, the ratchet pawls B1 are disengaged from their corresponding ratchet wheels 66; the guard members 64 are lifted to meet members 62; and the sleeves 65 are slid outwardly to lock guard members 64 in driving position.

It is obvious that the guard members 64 of this modification may be moved by power or, if preferred, by a manually operated lever on tank 40 attached by Bowden wires or the like to the guard members 64. This modification is also adapted to retain front wheel I0 raised free of the roadway.

It may equally be seen that the controls for the stand of any modication of my invention may be operated by any of the normal manual operating controls of a motorcycle, including the kick starter, the brake, the throttle, and other controls.

It is obvious also that the apparatus may be applied at the rear wheel of a motorcycle or other vehicle although much of the protective function would be lost in that case. It is also possible to arrange the device so that it may be positioned selectively to raise either wheel from the ground.

In Vaccordance with the provisions oi' the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together wth certain embodiments thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A two-wheeled vehicle including ,a frame, a guard structure for the protection of the rider in collision, comprising tubular members itigidly connected to said frame ahead of the normal position of the rider and extending laterally of said frame in front of the rider, and means connected to said tubular members for maintaining said vehicle in an upright stationary position with respect to the roadway and adapted to be adjusted into and away from supporting position in contact with said roadway.v

'2. In combination, in a two-wheeled vehicle, a frame, a guard structure for the protection of the rider in collision, comprising tubular members on each side of said vehicle having substantially vertical and parallel portions spaced laterally of the vehicle and being rigidly connected to said frame ahead of the normal position of the rider, and means including rods slidably housed in said substantially vertical and parallel portions, adapted to maintain said vehicle in an upright stationary position with respect to the roadway, and adapted to be raised into said substantially vertical and parallel portions out of contact with said roadway.

3. In combination with a motorcycle having an internal combustion engine, a guard structure including tubular members on each side of the frame of said motorcycle rigidly connected thereto and having substantially vertical and parallel portions, rods housed within said substantially Vertical and parallel portions 4and adapted to be lowered into contact with the roadway to maintain said vehicle in an upright stationary position, a piston connected to the upper end of each of said rods to form 4a sealed chamber Within each' of said tubular members, and means including a manually operable control mechanism for connecting each of said tubular members to the intake manifold of said engine.

4. In combination with a motorcycle having an internal combustion engine, a guard structure including tubular members on each side of the frame of said motorcycle rigidly connected there-- to and having substantially vertical and parallel portions, rods housed within said substantially vertical and parallel portions and adapted to be lowered into contact with the roadway to maintain said motorcycle in an upright stationary position, locks fastened to said tubular members and adapted to lock said rods against motion with respect to said tubular members, `a piston forming the upper end of each of said rods and adapted to seal said tubular members to form closed chambers therewithin, means including pipes and a valve for connecting said tubular members to 'the intake manifold of said internal combustion engine, and means including a control mechanism forV moving said locks into and out of locking position and for operating said valve, said last mentioned means alternately allowing said rods to drop to the roadway and locking them there, and applying vacuum from said manifold lto lift said rods Within said substantially vertical and parallel portions and maintaining them in lifted position.

5. In Va motorcycle, a frame, footboards located transversely of said frame, means Wholly in advance of said footboards for supporting said motorcycle and protecting the rider in collision, said means comprising substantially horizontal transversely extending members rigidly connected to said frame, substantially vertical tubular members connected to said horizontal members and spaced laterally from said frame in a protecting position, supporting members slidably disposed Within said vertical members, and releasable means for locking said supporting members within said vertical members.

6. In a motorcycle, a frame, footlooards located transversely of said frame, means wholly in advance of said footboards for supporting said motorcycle and protecting the rider in collision, said means comprising a transversely disposed tubular guard member rigidly attached to said frame and spaced laterally therefrom in protecting position and a support member telescopically connected to said guard member.

7. A two-Wheeled vehicle including aframe, a guard structure for the protection of the rider in collision, comprising rod members rigidly connected to said frame ahead of the normal position of the rider and extending laterally of said frame in front of the rider, and means including said rod members for maintaining said vehicle in an upright stationary position with respect to the roadway and adapted to be adjusted into and away from supporting position in contact With said roadway.

8. In `a motorcycle, a frame, ootboards located transversely of said frame, means wholly in advance of said footboards for supporting said motorcycle and protecting the rider in collision, said means comprising substantially horizontal transversely extending members rigidly connected to said frame, substantially vertical tubular members connected tosaid horizontal members, supporting members slidably disposed within said vertical members, vacuum connections including a hand controlled valve for connecting said tubular members at will to the intake manifold of the engine of said motorcycle, and releasable means for locking said supporting members Within said vertical members.

C. S. MFNTON. 

